Box-making machine



June 4, 1929.

w. w. WOODWORTH 1,715,585

BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 4; 1929. w,-w WQODWQRTH 1,715,585

BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1927 2 $heets-Sheet 2 Patented June 4, 1929?.

warren srarss waste PATENT. c erics.

WILLIAM W. TOOINVORTH, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNO R :{10 HOAGUE- SPRAGUE CORPORATION, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATIQN OF MAS- SACHUSETTS.

Application filed February 12, 1927. Serial No. 167,806.

This invention relates to machines employed in the making of boxes, it being'particularly concerned with that type of apparatus by which a previously prepared blank is formed to provide the walls of a box, and these walls secured at the corners.

Boxes which are used for some purposes, for example, as containersfor shoes, aresubjected to such strains that a strong cornerformation is desirable. This may be obtained at each corner by carrying an extension of one of the sides or wings of the boxblank over the adjacent side, as by a projection or corner-lap from a side wing overlying the end wing, and by further applying a stay to the thus lapped corner. The present invention has as an object the provision of a machine by which such forming and securing operations upon'a blank may be completed in a single operating cycle. To this end, my improved machine has means, as a reciprocatory form, for advancing a box-blank, which blank has side and end wings and corner-laps, combined with means acting during the advance of the blank by the form to cause the corner-laps to overlie the adjacent wings, and means acting .upon further advance of the blank to apply stays to the lapped corner. Considering the cornerlaps as projecting from the side wings, members are preferably provided having contact-surfaces shown as approximating portions of spheres, which, in the movement of the blank, simultaneously fold each cornerlap upon the side wing which carries it and over the adjacent end wing. It should be understood that the terms side and end do not necessarily imply that these wallforming wings are of different lengths circumferentially of the box, but rather distinguish one of the pairs of opposite wings from the companion pair. It is also desired to point out that the word box is applied both to the bottom or containing portion and the top or covering portion. As a greater strength of the corner is attained by securing the lap to the opposed wing, I prefer to apply glue or other suitable adhesive to the lap as it is being folded. For this purpose, there is shown in the contact or folding surface for the lap an opening to which the adhesive is delivered, as through connections to a receptacle. As the stay-applying mechanism which acts after the gluing and folding BOX-MAKING MACHINE.

of the lap may not properly press the glued area to effect 1ts union, there may be assoelated w1th 1t additional pressure means, which herein appears as av reciprocatory member.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 shows in broken perspective the more essential portions of the machine;

Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, are details in perspective illustrating sucessive steps in the corner-formation; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the inside of the completed corner.

As to its general structure, the present machine may resemble that of Patent No. 728,086, Davis and \Vebster, May 12, 1903. This has a frame 10, upon which reciprocates vertically a cross-head 12, having mounted on it a form 14, the area of the bottom of which is substantially the same as that of the body-portion of the box to be operated upon. Below the cross-head are forming devices A, to be later particularly described, through which devices box-blanks B, cut to the desired outline, are carried in the descent of the form 14. In the present instance, these blanks are adapted for the production of an elongated cover of the shoe-box type, they including a body-portion a, opposite side wings I; and end wings 0 extending from the body and defined by creases d, together with corner-laps e projecting from both extremities of the side wings, with intermediate creases which are extensions of those between the body and end wings. Theblanks are supplied to the forming devices in timed relation to the movement of the form 14 by a feeder F. In this feeder, the blanks are delivered from a stack positioned between adjustable walls 16, 16 by a reciprocatory picker 18, to rolls 20, 20. These rolls propel the blanks successively into the forming section, where they are carried against stops 22, 22 by a reciprocatory pushing member 24. At each corner of the section A, just below the forming devices, is a stay-applying mechanism C. Each of these mechanisms includes a reel 26 of stay-material S, which may consist of thin tough paper coated upon one side with adhesive. From the reel, each strip is led through a device 28, by which moisture is applied to the coated surface ofthe strip,and then inward to feed mechanism 30. This mechanism is intermittently actuated to advance for each operation a suflicient length of the material S to furnish a stay for the corner which has been formed. The action of the mechanism 30 is effected through gearing 32 acted upon by a reciprocatory rack 34. Below the feed mechanism, he stay-strip passes through a guide-openly 36 in a plate 37 (Fig-5) The form of th ,gpening is such as to curve the strip laterally, so that it may more nearly conform to the angular form of the box-corner, when it is severed by a reciprocatory cutter 38, moving against the under side of the plate 37. After being cut, the stay-piece is forced against the formed corner by a pressure member 0, in which is a depression conforming to t e angle of the box. Each cutter and press! re member are reciprocated together by connections 41 to a slide 42, which is actuated by a horizontally reciprocating cross-head 44.

Considering now the elements peculiar to this invention, there is at the upper portion of each side of the forming section A a supporting bar 50, upon which the rolls 20 deliver the blanks B, and with which the stops 22 are in horizontal alinement. These bars are separated from each other by a space somewhat less than the width of the blanks, so that, until the action of the form 14, these blanks remain positioned upon the bars. At the outer sides of the bars are vertical walls 52, the distance between which is just sufficient to admit the blanks and thus gage them laterally with respect to the form. At each extremity of the blank positioned upon the bars, and beside each bar, is a folding member, shown as in the form of a block 54.

As the blank is forced down from the bars by the form, the edges of its side wings yielding slightly to permit it to pass the bars 50, each corner-lap comes in contact with a curved face 56 of the corresponding block, this face approximating a portion of the surface of a sphere. The effect of this contact is to bend the lap simultaneously in two directions, upward about the crease between it and the connected side wing, and inward with said wing over the adjacent end wing, which still remains in a horizontal position. This is as appears in Fig. 3. In each folding face 56 is an opening 58 terminating a passage through the block, to which passage is joined a pipe 60 connected to a receptacle 62 for glue or other adhesive. A Valve 64 in each of the pipes 60 allows the flow of adhesive to the opening 58 to be controlled. Between the forming operations, the glue gathers in a drop protruding from the opening, and as the corner-lap is wiped over it, said lap receives an application of the adhesive upon its outer surface near the end, as appears at f in Fi 4. At this time, the form 14, in its travelfiarings each end wing of the blank against spaced folding walls 66, 66,

the upper edges of which are curved downwardly and inwardl to vertical surfaces, which are separate at opposite sides of the form by a space equal to the length of the finished box. Then the side wings contact with extended folding walls 68, 68 curved similarly to the walls 66 and situated below the bars 50, these walls 68 being spaced to correspond to the width of the box. The rising of the side and end wings under the influence of the walls 66 and 68 completes the carrying-iii of the cornerlaps, which was initiated by the surfaces 56, so that the box is fully folded upon the form, as shown in Fig. 4. With the parts in this final relation, the form stops with the corners opposite the pressure members 40, over each of which the end of the moistened staymaterial S has been fed by the rolls 30. This is as illustrated in Fig. 5'. At the inner side of each member 40, with its end registering with the glued portion 7 of the corner-lap, is a pressure-head 70. This head is seated in a recess in the support of one of the walls 66; and is fixed upon a horizontal rod .72 mounted to reciprocate in the support. It is held normally back out of the path of the descending box by a spring 74 surrounding the stem and abutting against the support and enlargement 76 at the outer end of the stem. It is advanced to press the head upon the end wing, so that this is urged against the glued lap, by a contact member 7 8 projecting from the cross-head 44. Consequently, as the pressure member 40 is advanced to aflix the stay to th e box, the associated head 70 exerts pressure upon the corner-lap to join this to the surface of the end wing.

T0 outline the general operation of the ap-- paratus, it may be said that, blanks B being supplied to the feeder F, the bottom blanks are successively advanced, While the crosshead 12 is elevated. They are received upon the supporting bars 50, and gaged longitudinally by the stops 22 and laterally by the Walls 52, into engagement with which they have been brought by the member 24. A blank being thus in place, as indicated in Fig. 2, the cross-head is lowered to force the form 14 against the body-portion a of the blank. Contact is first established between the cornor-laps e and the folding surfaces 56 of the blocks 54, whereby the laps are turned upwardly and inwardly as the side wings b are leaving the supports. The side wings are thus started toward each other coincidently with the bending of the corner-laps, as is shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter, the end wings and side wings are bent up to a-vertical position by the walls 66 and 68, respectively as appears in Fig. 4. The previously fed staymaterial S at each applying mechanism 0 is located opposite one of the formed corners, and the advance of the cutter 38 and pressure member severs this and fixes it upon the corner, extendlng over both the side and end wings. Simultaneously, the heads 70 press upon the end wings to effect the union of these with the corner-laps by means of the glue applied to said corner-laps through the openings 58 in the folding surfaces 56. The forming and securing of all four corners is thus completed. By this apparatus, it will be seen, there are progressively performed in a single cycle all the steps of forming the corners of a box and securing the elements of these corners, including the application of stays. The box-structure produced is of great strength, effectively resisting the rough usage which such elements as the covers'of shoe-boxes encounter, the gluing of the lap not only adding to the strength which is provided by the stay, but also holding the inside of the corner in place, so that the separation of the lap from the inner surface of the end Wing will not interfere \vith succeeding manufacturing operations.

This might occur in machines for applying covering material, in which a form is lntroduced within the box. 4

Having described. my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Parent of the United States is:

1. In a box machine, means for advancing a blank, said blank having wings and cornerlaps projecting therefrom, means acting during the advance of the blank to cause the corner-laps to overlie the adjacent wings, and means acting upon further advance of the blank to apply stays to the lapped corners.

2. In a box machine, a reciprocatory form, means for delivering to the form a blank having corner-laps, and lap-folding and stay-applying means acting upon the blank in successive positions of the form.

3. In a machine for operating upon boxblanks having side and end wings and cornerlaps projecting from the side wings, a reciprocatory form, members having surfaces into contact with which a blank is moved by the form and which is arranged to fold the corner laps simultaneously upon the side wings and over the end wings, and stay-applying mechanism acting upon the corners of the box after its advance from the folding members.

4. In a machine for operating upon boxblanks having side and end wings and cornerlaps projecting from the side wings, a reciprocatory form arranged to advance a blank, a member having a surface approximating a portion of a sphere and by contact which which a corner-lap is folded, a member arranged to fold a wing over the corner-lap, and stay-applying mechanism acting upon the lapped corner.

5. In a box machine, a reciprocatory form, means for delivering to the form a blank having corner-laps, and lap-folding and gluing and stay-applying means acting upon the blank in successive positions of the form.

6. In a machine for operating upon boxblanks having side and end wings and cornerlaps projecting from the side wings, a recipro.

catory form, members having surfaces provided with openings and into contact with which the blank is moved by the form and which are arranged to fold the corner-laps simultaneously upon the side wings and over the end wings, means for delivering an adhesive through the openingsin the members for application to the corner-laps, and stayapplying mechanism acting upon the corners of the box after its advance from the folding members.

7. In a machine for operating upon boxblanks having side and end wings and cornerlaps projecting from the side Wings, a reciprocatory form arranged to advance a blank, a member having a surface approximating a portion of a sphere-and by contact with which a corner-lap is folded, there being an opening in the curved surface, a receptacle connected to the opening, a member arranged to fold a wing over the corner-lap, and stay-applying mechanism acting upon the lapped corner in the final position of the form.

8. In a machine for operating upon boxblanks having side and end wings and cornerlaps projecting from the side wings, opposite supports for the edges of the side Wings of a blank, a vertically reciprocatory form movable into contact with the blank upon the supports, folding walls situated at the opposite ends of the supports and against which the corner-laps are carried in the movement of the form, folding walls against which the end wings are thereafter carried by the form, folding walls acting upon the side wings during the movement of the form, and a unitary pressure member-cooperating with the wings at both sides of each corner of the folded box.

9. In a machine for operating upon boxblanks having side and end Wings and cornerlaps projecting from the side wmgs, opposite supports for the edges of the side wings, a vertically reciprocatory form movable into contact with a blank upon the supports, stationary folding walls situated at the opposite ends of the supports and against which the corner-laps are carried in the movement of the form, means for delivering an adhesive to said walls for application to the corner-laps, folding walls against which the end wings are thereafter carried by the form, and folding walls acting upon the side wings during the movement of the form.

10. In a machine for operating upon boxblanks having side and end wings and corner-- means for forming stays and pressing them upon the box-corners. v

12. In a box machine, a reciprocatory form, means for delivering to the form a blank having corner-laps, lap-folding and luing means acting upon the corners of the box, a pressure member movable into contact with each glued lap, and a member movable to apply a stay to end corner. 4

13. In a machine foropcrating upon boxblanks having side and end Wings and'cornerlaps projecting from the side wings, a reciprocatory form, members having contactsurfaces against which a blank is moved by the form and which is arranged to fold the corner-laps simultaneously upon th side wings and over the end wings, means for delivering glue to the contact-surfaces. reciprocatory members contacting with the end wings to press them against the glued corner-lap, and a member reciprocating adjacent to each pressure member and arranged to apply a stay to the corner.

I In testimony whereof I have si 'ned my name to this specification. b

IVILLIAM W. WOODWORTH.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,, 715, 585.

WILLIAM W.

Granted June 4, 1929, to

WOODWORTH.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 1, line 29, for the word "corner" read "corners", and line 65, for the misspelled word "sueessive" read "successive"; page 3, line 58, claim 4, for the word "which" read "with"; page 4, line 22, claim 12, for the word "end" read "each"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of June, A. D. 1930.

(Seal) M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,715, 585. Granted June 4, 1929, to

WILLIAM W. WOODWORTH.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Iage 1., line 29, for the Word "corner" read "corners", and line 65, for the misspelled word "sucessive read "successive"; page 3, line 58, claim 4, for the word "which" read "with"; page 4, line 22, claim 12, for the word "end" read "each"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of June, A. D. 1930.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

